Seven people have been charged in connection with what police have described as a sophisticated banking scam.

The fraud division of the Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime investigation branch (C-TOC) indicates that it is a significant breakthrough in the fight against financial crimes.

It comes on the heels of the arrest of six people, including a police officer last week, in connection with a multi-million dollar smishing scam, targeting an elderly customer of the national commercial bank.

According to police, the scam targeted a customer of a bank and involved unknown culprits posing as bank representatives, both electronically and in person.

The scammers allegedly used information obtained during this misrepresentation to gain access to the customer’s bank account, stealing a total of US $63,871 and more than JM $10.16 million.

The seven suspects have been charged with receiving stolen property as it was alleged that they received some of the stolen funds.

Charged are: 21-year-old security officer Natanya Murray of Portsmouth, St. Catherine; 19-year-old Jamiela O’Connor, of Hamstead Avenue, Kingston; 21-year-old Rojourn Bowler of Tarrant Drive, Kingston 10; 21-year-old janitor Rojhe Marthluck of Cadot Close, Kingston; 42-year-old security officer Christopher Fellows of Wild Street, Kingston; 23-year-old trainer Brithany Smith of Braeton Meadows, St. Catherine and 28-year-old carpenter Michael Williams of Old Braeton, St. Catherine.

The seven are set to appear in the Kingston and St. Andrew parish court on January 31 next year.

The fraud division is urging customers of financial institutions to be cautious of individuals posing as representatives of these entities and to refrain from supplying personal banking information to unknown persons.

Additionally, bank customers are being advised not to grant access to their bank accounts to receive fraudulently obtained funds.

The police are urging anyone with information about this scam or other similar crimes to assist in the investigation.

The police say investigations into this matter are ongoing to dismantle larger criminal networks.